Where to Go For a Walk

Dogs tend to get bored with a routine just as much as we do, and simply spending a long time sleeping and being lazy affects their health negatively. Hence, taking your pup for a walk would be killing two birds with one stone.

All dogs require their daily dose of exercise and the best way to do so is to take your dog for a walk. This way, you would not only get your pooch off of its, er … tail … but you would also get a fresh breath of air yourself.

There are so many options out there where you and your loyal buddy can go for a walk.

TA’ QALI DOG PARK

Spread over an area of 1000 square metres, the Ta’ Qali Dog Park provides an ideal location for dogs to roam freely while still being supervised by their owners. The park is surrounded by a fence, so dog owners need not worry about their fellow buddy running away.

Dogs can exercise as well as mingle in this environment, as long as their owners get to follow the rules at the park. Click on the link below to access the Ta’ Qali Dog Park Rules:

https://environment.gov.mt/en/Pages/PARKS/Dog-Park.aspx

MARSASCALA FAMILY PARK

As the name implies, this park is not mainly targeted to dog owners. Nonetheless you can be assured that Fido would still enjoy a walk in this park. The Marsascala Family Park has a designated area where dogs can roam freely. Although it is not as large as the Dog Park in Ta’ Qali, this area has an obstacle course where you and your dog could have a blast.

WALKING ON LEASH

The Ta’ Qali Dog Park and the Marsascala Family Park are the only two currently existing parks where dogs can run freely. Nonetheless, dogs and their owners can still enjoy the outdoors on a stroll while on leash. There are numerous areas where you can take your dog for a walk.

CanineMalta.com has developed a map with areas where people can take their dogs for a walk. You can access this map by clicking this link:

http://caninemalta.com/index.php/canine-zones/walking-and-off-leash-places

Remember, these are not off leash zones! Better yet, this website also allows users to give their contribution by suggesting locations which are not currently on the map. All you have to do is get in touch with Canine Malta and you may be one step closer to giving dogs another place where to plat.  

Note: Dogs should be walked on leash at all times when in a public place, and owners are obliged to clean up after their dogs.

DOG FRIENDLY BEACHES

The idea of going on a walk does not sound as appealing during the hot summer months. This is more so since the summer heat is particularly harsh on our fury friends, who face the heat on their bare feet. For this reason, a nice swim would help to freshen up.

Here’s a list of Dog Friendly Beaches in Malta:

•                    Bahar ic-Caghaq behind the Splash and Fun park,

•                    Marsaxlokk at Il-Maghluq

•                    Marsaxlokk at Xatt is-Sajjieda

•                    Sliema near the Old Chalet

•                    L-Ahrax Tal-Mellieha near the camping site

•                    Marsalforn in the Ta' Xwejni area.

•                    il-Bajja ta' l-Imgiebah in Selmun

•                    Torri l-Abjad in Mellieha

•                    Tigne Point in Sliema

•                    Dahlet ix-Xmajjar at l-Ahrax tal-Mellieha

•                    Zonqor Point in Marsascala

•                    Torri l-Abjad and the bays around the boathouses

•                    Rinella in Kalkara

•                    Zebbug bay in Gozo

Now that you’re well informed, grab that leash, and hit the road. Oh, and don’t forget the doggy-waste bag!

DIY Healthy Home-made Dog Food - Part 2

CHICKEN CASSEROLE (SERVES 4)

Chicken is a good source of protein, and the vegetables promote better digestion and also create a tasty mix.

INGREDIENTS

4 chicken breasts

1/2 cup of green beans, chopped

1/2 cup of carrots, chopped

1/2 cup of broccoli, chopped

1/2 cup rolled oats.

4 cups of low-salt chicken broth

Tip: Making use of green beans will help your dog feel full

DIRECTIONS

Remove the extra fat from the chicken breast and then cut the chicken into small bite-sized chunks. Cook the chicken in a non-stick pan over a medium heat until the chicken is no longer pink. Then, add the chicken together with the vegetables, rolled oats and chicken broth into a large pot and cook again on medium heat until the carrots are tender. This should take around 15 minutes. Allow to cool before serving to your dog. Store in the fridge for up to five days.

DOGGIE CHILI (SERVES 4)

This recipe includes chicken breast and vegetables as together they create a healthy and tasty mix.

INGREDIENTS

4 chicken breasts

1 cup of kidney beans, drained

1 cup of black beans, drained

1 cup of carrots, diced

1/2 cup of tomato paste

4 cups of chicken broth

DIRECTIONS

Remove the excess fat and dice the chicken breast into small pieces. Then cook the chicken in a non-stick pan over medium to high heat until no longer pink. Add the chicken, beans, carrots, tomato paste and chicken into a large pot and then cook for approximately 10 minutes over medium heat. Allow the mixture to cool before serving and store the leftovers in the fridge for up to five days.

BEEF STEW

This recipe includes meat for protein, vegetables for vitamins and gravy for flavour. This is a good alternative is your dog loves wet dog food.

INGREDIENTS

1 pound of beef stew meat

1 small sweet potato

1/2 cup of carrots, diced

1/2 cup of green beans, diced

1/2 cup of flour

1/2 cup of water or organic vegetable oil

1 tablespoon of vegetable oil for frying

DIRECTIONS

Cook the sweet potato for 5 to 8 minutes until it is firm but tender in a frying pan. Then slice the beef stew into small portions and cook while adding in a tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium heat for about 10 to 15 minutes or until it is well-done. Remove the portions from the pan but keep the broth. Heat the drippings over medium-low heat and slowly add in the flour and water into the dripping while beating to create a thick gravy. Dice the sweet potato and add the meat, carrots and green beans into the gravy and then stir to coat. Cook the carrots for about 10 minutes until they are tender. Serve this when cool and store the remaining in the fridge for up to five days.

Tip: You can buy pre-made gravy to save you time.

FROZEN YOGHURT POPS

This recipe includes fruit juice and carrots which adds the much needed vitamins to your dog’s diet while the yoghurt provides calcium and protein. Make use of non-fat yogurt as it is much healthier alternative especially if the dog is overweight.

INGREDIENTS

6 oz. container of plain, non-fat frozen yoghurt

1 cup of no-sugar added fruit juice

1/2 cup of carrots, minced

DIRECTIONS

Add the yoghurt, fruit juice and carrots into a medium-sized bowl and stir until the ingredients have blended well together. Pour the mixture into the ice cube trays using a spoon. Then freeze until the ingredients have frozen.

DIY Healthy Home-made Dog Food - Part 1

Many of us give great importance to our health and what food we eat, so why shouldn’t we feel the same for our dog? Home cooked food will have much less preservatives and additives when compared to dry dog food. Home cooked food will provide your four legged friend with a varied diet, which includes much better ingredients that are beneficial to their health. Preparing your dog's food will also keep him happy as he will always have interesting and new food to eat.   

BEEF AND VEGETABLE BALLS (SERVES 2 DOGS)

It is a well-known fact that most dogs favour meat treats. So they’ll definitely love this one!

INGREDIENTS

2 jars of organic beef and vegetable baby food

1 cup of whole-wheat flour (This may be substituted with white flour). 

2 cups of dry milk

1 cup of water

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then mix all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and drop the mixture onto a baking sheet. Bake for around 12 to 15 minutes and allow the treats to cool down completely. You should then store any leftover beef and vegetable balls in the fridge for up to five days.

Tip: Cut the recipe in half if you only own one dog.

TURKEY AND VEGETABLE DINNER (SERVES 2)

Turkey is a very healthy alternative to beef, hence it can be beneficial to those canines that need to lose some weight.

INGREDIENTS

4 cups of water
1 pound of ground turkey
2 cups of brown rice
1 cup of carrots, chopped
1 cup of green beans, chopped
1 tablespoon of fish oil (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Cook the ground turkey in a non-stick pan over a medium heat until the turkey is cooked through. Get a large pot and add the brown rice, turkey and water, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium – low and cook for another 15 minutes, or until the rice is soft and tender.  Add the carrots and green beans and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Allow them to cool down before serving and store the extra in a fridge for up to five days.

Tip: Avoid using heavy oil to brown the turkey as it has a high fat content which might upset your dog’s stomach.

PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

These cookies will be a great way to sneak in some fish oil into your dog’s diet as this improves the dog’s coat by making  it shiny, soft and healthy looking .

Note: Some brands of peanut butter have unhealthy hydrogenated oils and additives therefore you might want to make your own peanut butter using some raw peanuts and peanut oil and processing the mixture in your food processor.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups of flour (white or wheat, if your pup has no wheat allergies)

1 cup of rolled oats

1/3 cup of smooth peanut butter

1 tablespoon of honey

1/2 tablespoon of fish oil

1 1/2 cups of water

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and then mix the flour and oats together in a large mixing bowl. Then pour one cup of water and blend until it becomes smooth enough to add in the peanut butter, honey and fish oil. Mix until all the ingredients are blended well together. Slowly add the water until the mixture has a thick and doughy consistency. Lightly flour a cooking surface and roll the dough onto the cooking surface to create a ¼ inch thick sheet. Then use a cookie cutter to create shapes. Place the cookies onto a baking sheet and bake for around 40 minutes. Allow to cool completely before feeding it to the dog.

Tip: If the dough is very sticky to roll, slowly add more flour.

FRUIT PARFAIT

This parfait has a mix of dairy and fruit and gives your pup a nice dose of vitamins and proteins.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup plain, non-fat yogurt

1/2 cup of strawberries, diced

1/2 cup of blueberries, diced

1/2 cup of applesauce

DIRECTIONS

Blend all the ingredients in a mixer or mash until the yogurt is smooth and the fruit is well blended. You should serve in small amounts and store in the fridge for up to seven days.

Tip: When you plan to serve your dog with a fruit parfait, you should reduce the amount of regular food by one half to one cup to keep from over-feeding.

What Food Can Your Dog Eat?

Ever had leftover food from lunch and wondered whether you could give it to your dog? If so, this blog post will answer your question!

FOODS SUITABLE FOR YOUR DOG

There are various human foods which are beneficial for your pup. Namely, fruit and vegetables, which give your pup vitamins, fibre and that canine crunch.

Pasta and Rice (plain and cooked)

• Pasta and Rice (plain and cooked)
• Meat
• Fish
• Pumpkin
• Carrots
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Peanut butter
• Egg – not raw!
• Pears
• Sweet potato

However, there are also fruit and vegetables which are considered toxic to your canine friend. In many cases, it’s actually the seeds, pits or stems of these fruits that are poisonous. For example: An Apple is considered poisonous because of the seeds which are unhealthy for a dog, but if you slice it up leaving the skin attached and removing the seeds it’s a healthy treat! Apricot pits, cherry pits and peach pits are all toxic to dogs, although the fruit is ok.

IN MODERATION

The following are foods which may be unhealthy for your pooch if he eats them in large amounts. For example, giving your pup a lot of bread will cause it to gain weight. Also, giving it too much cheese may cause diarrhoea.

• Potatoes
• Broccoli
• Cheese
• Bread 
• Yogurt
• Tomatoes
• Fruit such as pineapple, banana, cherries, watermelon, apples, strawberries and blueberries

FOOD HARMFUL TO YOUR FURRY FRIEND

More importantly, as a dog owner, you need to be aware of the foodstuffs that are harmful for them in order to avoid giving it to them at all costs.

• Chocolate. It contains caffeine-like stimulants known as theobromine which, if ingested in large amounts can cause them vomiting, diarrhoea, irregular heartbeat, seizures and even death.
• Candy and gum is unhealthy and bad for their digestive system.
• Nuts. Certain types of nuts can cause toxic poisonings, an upset stomach or an obstruction in your dog's gastrointestinal tract.
• Onions and garlic. Large amounts cause damage to their red blood cells and can make them anaemic.
• Grapes and raisins. While this fruit is nutritious for you, it's toxic to dogs and can cause them kidney failure.
• Alcohol. Even drinking a small amount of alcohol can result in significant intoxication for a dog, which can lead to vomiting, seizures and even death.
• Avocado. Avocado leaves, fruit, seeds and bark contain a toxin called persin that can cause upset stomach and breathing difficulties.
• Pomegranates should also be avoided.
• Corn on the cob. The corn is digested however the cob blocks Fido’s intestine.
• Coffee, tea, and other caffeine. Caffeine in large quantities can be fatal.  Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, fits, and bleeding.
• Bones can splinter and cause an obstruction or lacerations of your dog's digestive systems. It's best to just give them the special bones created for dogs as a nice treat.

IF YOUR DOG EATS SOMETHING THAT IT SHOULDN'T

However always controlling what your dog eats may be difficult especially if their favorite hobby is wrecking the garbage bin! So if your dog swallows something it shouldn’t, contact your vet immediately. You can also make use of the following numbers in case of emergency:

• Animal Emergency Service – 5250 2000
  This is a 24 hour service. Your pet would be seen to and treated. Each call costs €5
• Veterinary Emergency Helpline – 7940 4030
• Professional advice will be given during an emergency
• Animal Welfare - 1717